Laminate Flooring Boulder CO

If you have been in a newly built or remodeled home recently, you have probably come across laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is a type of flooring that is highly durable and attractive. Most laminate flooring looks like wood flooring, which is part of the reason for its popularity. You can also find laminate floor options that resemble tile or even stone.

Laminate flooring, although it resembles its stone or wood counterparts, actually works like a very precise photograph. The floor is one big picture, covered with a strong, durable plastic. It is available as either glued or unglued flooring. Many homeowners are taking advantage of the easy to install snap together laminate wood floor choices that are currently available.

Many laminate flooring brands come with excellent warranties. This is possible because the flooring is so durable that it can withstand the wear and tear of the busiest families. These warranties are important, because you cannot repair laminate flooring the way you do wood flooring. The only repair option is to replace damaged planks. However, many homeowners feel that the warranty makes this worth the risk, and replacing a plank or two is not difficult if it becomes necessary.

The layers of the flooring are what make it so durable. The top layer, which laminate wood flooring companies commonly refer to the as the wear or outer layer, is the most durable layer. This layer is made out of materials that help it to shine. It is also coated with a clear finish. A common top layer is cellulose paper that has been soaked in melamine plastic resins. This material resists scratches incredibly well.

The second layer of laminate wood flooring, the design layer, is the photograph of the flooring design. This is a printed cellulose paper. While not incredibly durable, it is protected by the wear layer above. This paper does not fade and is what gives laminate wood floor its realistic appearance.

The core is the third layer. This is what makes the floor stable. Typically, laminate flooring contains fiberboard as the core. The core is treated to help it resist moisture. Better quality laminate flooring will have a thicker core than the less quality counterparts. The thicker and better treated the core is, the less likely the floor will be to buckle over time.

The final layer is the back of the laminate floor. This is what will touch the underlayment, which is placed between the laminate floor and the floorboards. Resin saturated paper that is treated to help improve moisture resistance is a common backing material.

Underlayment is an important part of the laminate flooring picture. This is not a required part of installing laminate floor, but it is highly recommended. Underlayment is used in floating floors, which are floors that are not glued to the floorboards. Many do it yourselfers will install floating floors, thus necessitating underlayment. Underlayment helps reduce noise once the floor is installed. In addition, underlayment helps even out any irregularities in the sub floor. As older homes settle, the floorboards also settle, creating irregularities that can cause bubbles and gaps in the flooring after it is installed.

Underlayment is important to help resist moisture as well. Moisture that comes from the floorboards will destroy your laminate flooring. This is particularly dangerous if you are installing the flooring on concrete, such as in basements or houses that are built on slabs.

Most laminate floors are installed with foam underlayment. This does not provide moisture control, however. Moisture-proof underlayment is required in situations when moisture could be a problem. A combo underlayment is a good choice when moisture and noise are both problematic. It combines foam with waterproof underlayment. Cork underlayment is the most expensive option, but it provides the best sound reduction and moisture resistance of the four choices.